WWII German M1911 K98 Rifle Ammunition Pouch - Pattern Variations
The K98 pouch was produced in two general types or patterns, early and late. However a third type called a transitional pattern is added to include pouches that have features from both the early and late patterns.
The early pattern pouches have an open type belt strap and all
aluminum hardware. The open type belt strap is permanently attached to the top of the pouch back with rivets and/or stitching. Each of the two long vertical straps are then slipped through a small horizontal belt retainer.
The strap then wraps under the pocket and is attached over a metal post that is mounted to the bottom of the pouch pocket. This allows the soldier to
attach or remove the pouch without having to remove the equipment belt. Transitional pattern pouches have an open type belt but also have a mix of aluminum and steel hardware.
The late pattern uses a closed style belt strap. Instead of wrapping
under the pocket as the earlier pattern pouches did, the strap ends at the
lower edge of the back. It is attached with rivets at this point and required
the soldier to remove the equipment belt to attach or remove the pouch. This method saved leather during construction but made the pouch less versatile.
Many variations of the different patterns are known to exist. No complete written record is known to exist of the various ways a pouch could be produced. Surviving examples of the K98 pouch have been documented with different construction methods and components.
The color legend (shown below) is used on this site to highlight the variations. Starting from left to right, the large letter shows the pattern type, Early, Transitional, and Late. Next is an image of an open or closed type belt strap. The color of the leather shown in the image is not relevant and serves to show the belt strap method. In the next section, two small abbreviations indicate the metal used in the fittings, either Aluminum or Steel. In some cases both types of metals were used in different fittings. To the right of that is the overall construction methods of the lid-to-strap attachment and the assembly of the pocket bottoms. No effort has been made at this point to further show the differences such as sewn lids, riveted bottoms or sewn bottoms, riveted lids. Technically all pouches were sewn and riveted, but the effort here is to show the variations beyond the basics. Next is the type of equipment ring used. Two general styles were used, either D-ring or a 4 sided or rectangular ring. Aluminum and steel was used for the D-ring and steel only for the 4 sided ring (as far as has been found). The next section is blank and is used to show the different military branches.
The table column to the right of the legend is a short description of the variation. A number at the far right is the count of documented pouches in my records. It could be used to determine the general production percentages.
Early Pattern
| E1 |  |
Open belt straps, all aluminum fittings, sewn, and D-ring |
Transitional Pattern
| T1 |  |
Open belt straps, steel fittings, sewn, D-ring | |
| T2 |  |
Open belt straps, steel fittings, sewn, 4 sided ring | |
| T3 |  |
Open belt straps, steel fittings, sewn, riveted, D-ring | |
| T4 |  |
Open belt straps, steel fittings, sewn, riveted, 4 sided ring | |
| T5 |  |
Open belt straps, steel fittings, riveted, D-ring | |
| T6 |  |
Open belt straps, steel fittings, riveted, 4 sided ring | |
| T7 |  |
Open belt straps, aluminum and steel fittings, sewn, D-ring | 16 |
| T8 | ??? | Open belt straps, aluminum and steel fittings, sewn, 4 sided ring | |
| T9 |  |
Open belt straps, aluminum and steel fittings, sewn, riveted, D-ring | 1 |
Late Pattern
| L1 |  |
Closed belt straps, steel fittings, sewn, D-ring | |
| L2 |  |
Closed belt straps, steel fittings, sewn, 4 sided ring | |
| L3 |  |
Closed belt straps, steel fittings, sewn, riveted, D-ring | |
| L4 |  |
Closed belt straps, steel fittings, sewn, riveted, 4 sided ring | |
| L5 |  |
Closed belt straps, steel fittings, riveted, D-ring | |
| L6 |  |
Closed belt straps, steel fittings, riveted, 4 sided ring | |
| L7 |  |
Closed belt straps, steel and aluminum fittings, sewn, D-ring |
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